Britain would begin urgent consultations with the UN Security Council partners, calling for a robust response to the third nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said Foreign Secretary William Hague on Tuesday.

"I strongly condemn this development, which is a violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1718, 1874 and 2087," he said.

"North Korea has a choice to make: it can either engage constructively with the international community, cease developing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and return to negotiations, or face increasing isolation and further action by the Security Council and the international community," said Hague.

The DPRK said on Tuesday it has successfully conducted the third underground nuclear test in the northern part of the country, according to its official KCNA news agency.